3.5/5 Stars
This review is spoiler free!

Motherthing is weird. In the best way possible.

Written in an everchanging writing style, it's a truly atmospheric contemporary horror novel. When I first read the synopsis, I thought I knew what this book would be like. I went into Motherthing expecting one thing, and instead found myself reading an entirely different story.

This book gives an extremely real and relatable insight into living in the shadow of someone with depression, processing loss, processing pain, and is oddly poignant yet sardonic. Expect this to be a slow burn, the story of someone finding themselves going insane. The whole book culminates in such an unexpected and chilling payoff, completely veering away from the atmosphere created. I definitely recommend reading Motherthing, and also recommend going in prepared to be totally surprised by the story!

*I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and views in this review are my own.

Abby longs for a good mother. Her own mother is out of
the question and her mother in law has been nothing but
cold and callous. Ever changing moods, passive aggressive
tendencies, and genuine disdain for Abby has driven them
apart. Until Lauren dies. A new chapter is waiting for Ralph
and Abby now. A fresh start. Abby needs this, this
opportunity to be a functional family and ultimately, to be
mother (NOT A MOTHERTHING), a good mother, a great
mother. Her plan is put into place and seems to be
working…but a mother(THING)'s love knows no bounds.
Lauren is back. Driving Ralph into a dangerous depressive
state, driving Abby to madness. Abby has to act. She has
to stop Lauren, this MOTHERTHING, from destroying her
chance at normalcy; not every mother knows best.

Motherthing is contemporary horror. Sharp, unsettling
energy and visceral imagery guide you on a slow and
steady creep towards insanity.
Hogarth's writing style is hypnotic: I couldn't unpeel myself
from Motherthing. I'm in awe of her ability to articulate the
most mundane events in a way that adds layers of emotion
EVERYTHING adds to the plot so that it becomes heavier,
thick, more pointed as each chapter passes.

The love/bond/wrath of Motherthing is inescapable and
although that feeling is there from the beginning, it festers
and morphs into an oozing (mother) THING that is
smothering, all-encompassing, horrific.

Total annihilation
feels inevitable, and it is.
Motherthing is perfect, a perfect baby. Read it please.

Thank you so much @netgalley & @doubledaybooks for
approving me for one of my fave reads of the year!

I had a difficult time trying to rate Motherthing. The writing is beautiful, the story is unique and provides an enthralling examination of what motherhood is and who deserves to be a mother. What are the depths to which one will go to show their love? Are you a "motherthing" if you love someone unconditionally and take care of them?

However, I personally did not like this book at all. I found the main character completely childish and unlikable, her actions made no sense even though she was clearly disturbed. For the majority of the book, the horror elements felt forced and were just periodic bursts of gruesome thoughts from the main character. It reminded me of Chuck Palahniuk - musings about the world which leads to some horrifying statement or imagining that is "edgy."

The thing is, I think I am in the minority. Motherthing will likely be a great success, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a contemporary and feminist look at motherhood. I went into this thinking it was a horror novel about a haunting, and it is not that.

I love it. I don’t know how to subscribe this book but it’s absolutely a masterpiece. Sarcastic and satire abound within the narrative. I enjoyed reading about the characters and I highly recommend it!